ABOUTCOMPLINE

Compline (which comes from the Latin word for completion) follows a very ancient format that has been largely unchanged for many centuries. It is simple enough to memorise and it’s familiar rhythm helps to wonderfully settle the mind before sleep. It is a time of quietness and reflection and is best done as the very last thing you do before turning off the lights and going to sleep.

CALL TO WORSHIP

Reader: God, come to my assistanceAll:Lord, make haste to help me.

Reader:Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. All:As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen

EXAMINATION OFCONSCIENCE

We are called to have a clear conscience towards God and towards men, in our hearts and in our minds, in our actions and inactions. To do so, it is vital that we examine our conscience daily and ask for God’s mercy as we fall short and to ask His strength to do better.

Pause for Reflection…

All: (When praying in community, use the words in parenthesis)

I confess to God almighty,(and to you my brothers and sisters,)
that I have greatly sinned,
In my thoughts and in my words,
in what I have done and in what I have failed to do.
Through my fault, through my foolishness,And through my fear.

Almighty God, have mercy upon me.Forgive me all my sins,and deliver me from all evil.Confirm and strengthen me in all goodness,and bring me to life everlasting.Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Pause for Reflection…

Reader: Lord, Have mercy.All:Lord, have mercy. Reader: Christ, Have mercy. All:Christ, have mercy. Reader: Lord, Have mercy.All:Lord, have mercy.

EVENING PSALM

Psalm 4

The Safety of the Faithful

To the Chief Musician. With stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.

Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness!
You have relieved me in my distress;
Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.
How long, O you sons of men,
Will you turn my glory to shame?
How long will you love worthlessness
And seek falsehood? Selah

Know that the Lord has set apart for Himself him who is godly;The Lord will hear when I call to Him.Be angry, and do not sin.
Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still. Selah

Offer the sacrifices of righteousness,
And put your trust in the Lord.
There are many who say,
“Who will show us any good?”

Lord, lift up the light of Your countenance upon us.You have put gladness in my heart,More than in the season that their grain and wine increased.I will both lie down in peace, and sleep;For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.

All:Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen

WORSHIP

All:
(A time of worship and thanksgiving, led or spontaneous. Alternatively a devotional song may be played and listened to.)

NEW TESTAMENT READING

Acts 10:17-33

Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision that he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made enquiry for Simon’s house, stood at the gateand called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there.And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you.Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them.”And Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your coming?”And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say.”So he invited them in to be his guests.

The next day he rose and went away with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him.And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshipped him.But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am a man.”And as he talked with him, he went in and found many persons gathered.And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean.So when I was sent for, I came without objection. I ask then why you sent for me.”

And Cornelius said, “Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothingand said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God.Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon who is called Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.’So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.”

RESPONSORY

Reader: You have redeemed us, Lord God of truth.All:
I commend my spirit.

Reader:Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. All:
Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.

SONG OF SIMEON (Nunc Dimitis)

All:Protect us, Lord, as we stay awake;Watch over us as we sleep,That awake, we may keep watch with Christ,And asleep, may rest in his peace.

Luke 2:29-32

Lord, now let your servant depart in peace, your word has been fulfilled:My own eyes have seen the salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people.A light to reveal you to the nations,and the glory of your people, Israel.

All:Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen

All:Protect us, Lord, as we stay awake;Watch over us as we sleep,That awake, we may keep watch with Christ,And asleep, may rest in his peace.

PRAYER

(You might like to spend a few moments thanking God for the day or bringing to him any outstanding issues.)

COLLECT

Reader:(Either this or an alternative closing prayer may be said.)

Be present, O God,
And protect us through the silent hours of this night,
So that we who are wearied by the changes and chances of this fleeting world,
May rest upon your eternal changelessness.
We ask this through Jesus Christ, your son our Lord,
Who is alive and reigns with you,
In the unity of the Spirit,
One God, now and forever, Amen

BLESSING

Reader:(When praying in community, this or a similar blessing may be used)

May the all-powerful Lord grant us a restful night and a peaceful end. Amen

ABOUT TODAY

In the church calendar the long stretch of time between Pentecost and the beginning of Advent is known as ‘Ordinary Time.’ Inasmuch as we have celebrated the birth, death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus and the subsequent descent of the Holy Spirit; so this time is often seen as representative of the long ‘Church Age’ when the gospel is preached to all creation. Because of that, our intercessions during this period will include prayers for every single nation of the world by name.

CALL TO WORSHIP

Reader:
God, come to my assistance.All:Lord, make haste to help me.

Reader:Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. All:As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen

AFTERNOON PSALM

Psalm 83

Prayer to Frustrate Conspiracy Against IsraelA Song. A Psalm of Asaph.

Do not keep silent, O God!Do not hold Your peace,And do not be still, O God!For behold, Your enemies make a tumult;And those who hate You have lifted up their head.They have taken crafty counsel against Your people,And consulted together against Your sheltered ones.They have said, “Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation,That the name of Israel may be remembered no more.”

For they have consulted together with one consent;They form a confederacy against You:The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites;Moab and the Hagrites;Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek;Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre;Assyria also has joined with them;They have helped the children of Lot. Selah

Deal with them as with Midian,As with Sisera,As with Jabin at the Brook Kishon,Who perished at En Dor,Who became as refuse on the earth.Make their nobles like Oreb and like Zeeb,Yes, all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,Who said, “Let us take for ourselvesThe pastures of God for a possession.”

O my God, make them like the whirling dust,Like the chaff before the wind!As the fire burns the woods,And as the flame sets the mountains on fire,So pursue them with Your tempest,And frighten them with Your storm.Fill their faces with shame,That they may seek Your name, O Lord.Let them be confounded and dismayed forever;Yes, let them be put to shame and perish,That they may know that You, whose name alone is the Lord,Are the Most High over all the earth.

All:Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen

WORSHIP (Optional)

All:
(A short time of worship and thanksgiving, led or spontaneous. Alternatively a devotional song may be played and listened to.)

OLD TESTAMENT READING

Jeremiah 22:1-10

Thus says the Lord: “Go down to the house of the king of Judah and speak there this word,and say, ‘Hear the word of the Lord, O king of Judah, who sits on the throne of David, you, and your servants, and your people who enter these gates.Thus says the Lord: Do justice and righteousness, and deliver from the hand of the oppressor him who has been robbed. And do no wrong or violence to the resident alien, the fatherless, and the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place.For if you will indeed obey this word, then there shall enter the gates of this house kings who sit on the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, they and their servants and their people.But if you will not obey these words, I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that this house shall become a desolation.For thus says the Lord concerning the house of the king of Judah:

“‘You are like Gilead to me,like the summit of Lebanon,yet surely I will make you a desert,an uninhabited city.I will prepare destroyers against you,each with his weapons,and they shall cut down your choicest cedarsand cast them into the fire.

“‘And many nations will pass by this city, and every man will say to his neighbour, “Why has the Lord dealt thus with this great city?”And they will answer, “Because they have forsaken the covenant of the Lord their God and worshipped other gods and served them.”’”

Weep not for him who is dead,nor grieve for him,but weep bitterly for him who goes away,for he shall return no moreto see his native land.

Reader:The Word of the Lord.All: Thanks be to God.

Pause for Reflection……

PRAYER

(Take a moment to bring to God any issues that have arisen during the morning. You may like to end with the following prayer…)

Reader:Lord Jesus, we thank you for another morning in Your House,
For the Word as pronounced to your people,
For the Worship as presented by your people,
For the Witness as proclaimed through your people,
And for the gathering of your Bride all over the world.
We ask your blessings upon the rest of this day,
May we enjoy Sabbath rest, renewed strength and a firmer hope,
As we run the race and stretch forth towards the prize. Amen

(If these prayers are taking place before food, you may like to say the Grace here also.)

GRACE (Optional)

Lord God, we thank you for your gift to us of this food;
Produce of earth, sky, many living beings, and much hard work.

May we eat with prayerfulness, gratitude and moderation;
With renewed minds and spirit-controlled appetites.

May we eat with compassion for those who hunger today,
And in such a way that reduces the suffering of all creatures;
Healing and preserving our precious planet.

Use this food to strengthen our bodies, revive our spirits,
Nurture our family and nourish our resolve;
That we may continue to serve all that lives with all our life. Amen

ABOUT TODAY

In the church calendar the long stretch of time between Pentecost and the beginning of Advent is known as ‘Ordinary Time.’ Inasmuch as we have celebrated the birth, death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus and the subsequent descent of the Holy Spirit; so this time is often seen as representative of the long ‘Church Age’ when the gospel is preached to all creation. Because of that, our intercessions during this period will include prayers for every single nation of the world by name.

CALL TO WORSHIP

Reader:
Lord, Open my lips.All:And my mouth will give you praise.

Reader:Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. All:As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen

INVITATORY PSALM:

Psalm 100 (Jubilate Deo)

All:

A Song of Praise for the Lord’s Faithfulness to His PeopleA Psalm of Thanksgiving.

Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!Serve the Lord with gladness;Come before His presence with singing.Know that the Lord, He is God;It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,And into His courts with praise.Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.For the Lord is good;His mercy is everlasting,And His truth endures to all generations.

All:Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen

MORNING PSALM

Psalm 86

Prayer for Mercy, with Meditation on the Excellencies of the LordA Prayer of David.

Bow down Your ear, O Lord, hear me;For I am poor and needy.Preserve my life, for I am holy;You are my God;Save Your servant who trusts in You!Be merciful to me, O Lord,For I cry to You all day long.Rejoice the soul of Your servant,For to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive,And abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.

Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer;And attend to the voice of my supplications.In the day of my trouble I will call upon You,For You will answer me.

Among the gods there is none like You, O Lord;Nor are there any works like Your works.All nations whom You have madeShall come and worship before You, O Lord,And shall glorify Your name.For You are great, and do wondrous things;You alone are God.

Teach me Your way, O Lord;I will walk in Your truth;Unite my heart to fear Your name.I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart,And I will glorify Your name forevermore.For great is Your mercy toward me,And You have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.

O God, the proud have risen against me,And a mob of violent men have sought my life,And have not set You before them.But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious,Longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth.

Oh, turn to me, and have mercy on me!Give Your strength to Your servant,And save the son of Your maidservant.Show me a sign for good,That those who hate me may see it and be ashamed,Because You, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.

All:Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen

WORSHIP

All:
(A time of worship and thanksgiving, led or spontaneous. Alternatively a devotional song may be played and listened to.)

PRAYER & INTERCESSION

Reader:Let us pray for the day and its tasks, for the church and her life, and for the world and its needs.

(You may use these prayers as written or use them as ‘prayer pointers’ for your own spontaneous petitions.

Personal Requests

Almighty God, we set aside this day to gather in your presence and worship you. Build your church and let not the gates of hell prevail against her. Bring numerical increase and spiritual depth; that multitudes from the North, South, East and West may hear your call and enter your gates with joy! – For the Lord is good, and his mercy is everlasting…

For hearts ready to receive your Word and hands ready to reach out in love. – For the Lord is good, and his mercy is everlasting…

For feet ready to do your will and mouths ready to sing out in praise. – For the Lord is good, and his mercy is everlasting…

Family & Friends

Father of all, bring peace and wholeness to our families today. Heal that which is sick, restore that which is broken, strengthen that which is weak and comfort that which knows pain. – For the Lord is good, and his mercy is everlasting…

Make us bold in our witness, incessant in our prayers and relentless in our love. – For the Lord is good, and his mercy is everlasting…

Give us eyes to see the lonely and grace to welcome them into our homes. – For the Lord is good, and his mercy is everlasting…

The Church

Lord Jesus, we pray for our church. May her leaders hear your voice with great clarity, her ministries fulfil your will with great compassion and her people follow your path with great fervour. May we live the message we profess. – For the Lord is good, and his mercy is everlasting…

For those who labour in practical ministry. May they be strengthened in their service and encouraged in their calling. – For the Lord is good, and his mercy is everlasting…

For those who bring your Word to children and to adults. May their words bring life to the dead and encouragement to the weak. – For the Lord is good, and his mercy is everlasting…

For those who would hear your call today. Convict, convince, convert and consume! – For the Lord is good, and his mercy is everlasting…

The World

God of the Nations we stand in the gap and pray for the world. Today we pray for the people of Palestine, a land vastly reduced in scale to create room for the restoration of the state of Israel and further constrained by the aggressive military moves associated with the six-day war and Yom Kippur conflicts. May this people come to know you as the Prince of Peace. – For the Lord is good, and his mercy is everlasting…

For the 61% of the Palestinian population who are exiles from their former lands and significantly impacted by the Israeli security wall and the armed forces patrolling it; Lord Jesus, you went into exile yourself as a child and knew the impact of separation from extended family. Lord bring restoration. – For the Lord is good, and his mercy is everlasting…

Father you see the strife and cyclical nature of the troubles and tensions in this region, filled with families descended from Isaac and Ishmael. Jesus draw this nation into your worldwide family. – For the Lord is good, and his mercy is everlasting….

Holy God, we ask for the Palestinian Christians who face the challenging task of sharing their love for you when those neighbouring nations who claim your name display so little love. Give them words to say, acts to show and love to give. – For the Lord is good, and his mercy is everlasting…

THE LORD’SPRAYER

Reader: And so we pray…

All:Our Father in heaven,Holy is Your Name.Your Kingdom come.Your will be done,On earth as it is in heaven.Give us this day our daily bread;And forgive us our trespasses,As we forgive those who trespass against us.And lead us not into temptation,But deliver us from evil.For yours is the kingdom,The power, and the glory,Forever and ever. Amen.

GOSPEL READING

Luke 17:7-10

Unworthy Servants

“Will any one of you who has a servant ploughing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and recline at table’?Will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterwards you will eat and drink’?Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded?So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’”

Reader:The Word of the Lord.All: Thanks be to God.

Pause for Reflection…

READING: THE WAY OF CHRIST(Optional)

Mindful of the deeply damaging nature of modern materialistic culture, I choose to live a simple life that reflects the teachings of Jesus. As a follower of the Way of Simplicity, I shall live within my means, shun any sort of debt and free myself from the compulsion to posses what I cannot afford or do not need.

All:This is The Way of Simplicity: The Principle of Simple Living.

Pause for Reflection…

THE APOSTLES CREED

Reader: And so we make our declaration of faith…

All:We believe in God the Father, Almighty,Maker of heaven and earth:And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord,Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,Born of the Virgin Mary,Suffered under Pontius Pilate,Was crucified, dead, and buried:He descended into the grave;The third day he rose again from the dead;He ascended into heaven,And sits on the right hand of God the Father Almighty;From there he shall come to judge the living and the dead.We believe in the Holy Spirit;The Holy Worldwide Church;The Communion of Saints;The Forgiveness of sins;The Resurrection of the body,And the Life everlasting. Amen.

COLLECT

Reader:(Either this or an alternative closing prayer may be said.)

Almighty God,
Send down upon your Church,
The riches of your Spirit,
And kindle in all who minister the gospel,
Your countless gifts of grace;
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

BLESSING

Reader:(When praying in community, this or a similar blessing may be used)

And may the Lord bless you and keep you;
May the Lord make his face shine on you,
and be gracious to you;
May the Lord turn his face toward you,
And give you peace. Amen.

ABOUT COMPLINE

Compline (which comes from the Latin word for completion) follows a very ancient format that has been largely unchanged for many centuries. It is simple enough to memorise and it’s familiar rhythm helps to wonderfully settle the mind before sleep. It is a time of quietness and reflection and is best done as the very last thing you do before turning off the lights and going to sleep.

CALL TO WORSHIP

Reader: God, come to my assistanceAll:Lord, make haste to help me.

Reader:Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. All:As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen

EXAMINATION OFCONSCIENCE

We are called to have a clear conscience towards God and towards men, in our hearts and in our minds, in our actions and inactions. To do so, it is vital that we examine our conscience daily and ask for God’s mercy as we fall short and to ask His strength to do better.

Pause for Reflection…

All: (When praying in community, use the words in parenthesis)

I confess to God almighty,(and to you my brothers and sisters,)
that I have greatly sinned,
In my thoughts and in my words,
in what I have done and in what I have failed to do.
Through my fault, through my foolishness,And through my fear.

Almighty God, have mercy upon me.Forgive me all my sins,and deliver me from all evil.Confirm and strengthen me in all goodness,and bring me to life everlasting.Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Pause for Reflection…

Reader: Lord, Have mercy.All:Lord, have mercy. Reader: Christ, Have mercy. All:Christ, have mercy. Reader: Lord, Have mercy.All:Lord, have mercy.

EVENING PSALM

Psalm 51

A Prayer of RepentanceTo the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.

Have mercy upon me, O God,According to Your loving kindness;According to the multitude of Your tender mercies,Blot out my transgressions.Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,And cleanse me from my sin.

For I acknowledge my transgressions,And my sin is always before me.Against You, You only, have I sinned,And done this evil in Your sight—That You may be found just when You speak,And blameless when You judge.

Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,And in sin my mother conceived me.Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts,And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.Make me hear joy and gladness,That the bones You have broken may rejoice.Hide Your face from my sins,And blot out all my iniquities.

Create in me a clean heart, O God,And renew a steadfast spirit within me.Do not cast me away from Your presence,And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,And sinners shall be converted to You.

Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,The God of my salvation,And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness.O Lord, open my lips,And my mouth shall show forth Your praise.For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it;You do not delight in burnt offering.The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,A broken and a contrite heart—These, O God, You will not despise.

Do good in Your good pleasure to Zion;Build the walls of Jerusalem.Then You shall be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness,With burnt offering and whole burnt offering;Then they shall offer bulls on Your altar.

All:Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen

WORSHIP

All:
(A time of worship and thanksgiving, led or spontaneous. Alternatively a devotional song may be played and listened to.)

NEW TESTAMENT READING

Acts 10:9-16

Peter’s Vision

The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray.And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a tranceand saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth.In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air.And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.”And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.”This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.

Reader: You have redeemed us, Lord God of truth.All:
I commend my spirit.

Reader:Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. All:
Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.

SONG OF SIMEON (Nunc Dimitis)

All:Protect us, Lord, as we stay awake;Watch over us as we sleep,That awake, we may keep watch with Christ,And asleep, may rest in his peace.

Luke 2:29-32

Lord, now let your servant depart in peace, your word has been fulfilled:My own eyes have seen the salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people.A light to reveal you to the nations,and the glory of your people, Israel.

All:Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen

All:Protect us, Lord, as we stay awake;Watch over us as we sleep,That awake, we may keep watch with Christ,And asleep, may rest in his peace.

PRAYER

(You might like to spend a few moments thanking God for the day or bringing to him any outstanding issues.)

COLLECT

Reader:(Either this or an alternative closing prayer may be said.)

Be present, O God,
And protect us through the silent hours of this night,
So that we who are wearied by the changes and chances of this fleeting world,
May rest upon your eternal changelessness.
We ask this through Jesus Christ, your son our Lord,
Who is alive and reigns with you,
In the unity of the Spirit,
One God, now and forever, Amen

BLESSING

Reader:(When praying in community, this or a similar blessing may be used)

May the all-powerful Lord grant us a restful night and a peaceful end. Amen

ABOUT TODAY

In the church calendar the long stretch of time between Pentecost and the beginning of Advent is known as ‘Ordinary Time.’ Inasmuch as we have celebrated the birth, death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus and the subsequent descent of the Holy Spirit; so this time is often seen as representative of the long ‘Church Age’ when the gospel is preached to all creation. Because of that, our intercessions during this period will include prayers for every single nation of the world by name.

CALL TO WORSHIP

Reader:
God, come to my assistance.All:Lord, make haste to help me.

Reader:Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. All:As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen

AFTERNOON PSALM

Psalm 82

A Plea for JusticeA Psalm of Asaph.

God stands in the congregation of the mighty;He judges among the gods.How long will you judge unjustly,And show partiality to the wicked? Defend the poor and fatherless;Do justice to the afflicted and needy.Deliver the poor and needy;Free them from the hand of the wicked.

They do not know, nor do they understand;They walk about in darkness;All the foundations of the earth are unstable.

I said, “You are gods,And all of you are children of the Most High.But you shall die like men,And fall like one of the princes.”

Arise, O God, judge the earth;For You shall inherit all nations.

All:Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen

WORSHIP (Optional)

All:
(A short time of worship and thanksgiving, led or spontaneous. Alternatively a devotional song may be played and listened to.)

OLD TESTAMENT READING

Jeremiah 21:1-14

Jerusalem Will Fall to Nebuchadnezzar

This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, when King Zedekiah sent to him Pashhur the son of Malchiah and Zephaniah the priest, the son of Maaseiah, saying,“Enquire of the Lord for us, for Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon is making war against us. Perhaps the Lord will deal with us according to all his wonderful deeds and will make him withdraw from us.”

Then Jeremiah said to them:“Thus you shall say to Zedekiah, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Behold, I will turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands and with which you are fighting against the king of Babylon and against the Chaldeans who are besieging you outside the walls. And I will bring them together into the midst of this city.I myself will fight against you with outstretched hand and strong arm, in anger and in fury and in great wrath.And I will strike down the inhabitants of this city, both man and beast. They shall die of a great pestilence.Afterwards, declares the Lord, I will give Zedekiah king of Judah and his servants and the people in this city who survive the pestilence, sword, and famine into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and into the hand of their enemies, into the hand of those who seek their lives. He shall strike them down with the edge of the sword. He shall not pity them or spare them or have compassion.’

“And to this people you shall say: ‘Thus says the Lord: Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.He who stays in this city shall die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence, but he who goes out and surrenders to the Chaldeans who are besieging you shall live and shall have his life as a prize of war.For I have set my face against this city for harm and not for good, declares the Lord: it shall be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire.’

Message to the House of David

“And to the house of the king of Judah say, ‘Hear the word of the Lord,O house of David! Thus says the Lord:

“‘Execute justice in the morning,and deliver from the hand of the oppressorhim who has been robbed,lest my wrath go forth like fire,and burn with none to quench it,because of your evil deeds.’”“Behold, I am against you, O inhabitant of the valley,O rock of the plain,declares the Lord;you who say, ‘Who shall come down against us,or who shall enter our habitations?’I will punish you according to the fruit of your deeds,declares the Lord;I will kindle a fire in her forest,and it shall devour all that is round her.”

Reader:The Word of the Lord.All: Thanks be to God.

Pause for Reflection……

PRAYER

(Take a moment to bring to God any issues that have arisen during the morning. You may like to end with the following prayer…)

Reader:Lord Jesus we thank you for the many blessings of this day,Give us eyes to see the path ahead,
And faith to reach towards the prize. Amen

(If these prayers are taking place before food, you may like to say the Grace here also.)

GRACE (Optional)

Lord God, we thank you for your gift to us of this food;
Produce of earth, sky, many living beings, and much hard work.

May we eat with prayerfulness, gratitude and moderation;
With renewed minds and spirit-controlled appetites.

May we eat with compassion for those who hunger today,
And in such a way that reduces the suffering of all creatures;
Healing and preserving our precious planet.

Use this food to strengthen our bodies, revive our spirits,
Nurture our family and nourish our resolve;
That we may continue to serve all that lives with all our life. Amen

ABOUT TODAY

In the church calendar the long stretch of time between Pentecost and the beginning of Advent is known as ‘Ordinary Time.’ Inasmuch as we have celebrated the birth, death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus and the subsequent descent of the Holy Spirit; so this time is often seen as representative of the long ‘Church Age’ when the gospel is preached to all creation. Because of that, our intercessions during this period will include prayers for every single nation of the world by name.

CALL TO WORSHIP

Reader:
Lord, Open my lips.All:And my mouth will give you praise.

Reader:Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. All:As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen

INVITATORY PSALM:

Psalm 95:1-7 (Venite, exultemus)

All:

A Call to Worship and Obedience

Oh come, let us sing to the Lord!Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving;Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.For the Lord is the great God,And the great King above all gods.In His hand are the deep places of the earth;The heights of the hills are His also.The sea is His, for He made it;And His hands formed the dry land.

Oh come, let us worship and bow down;Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.For He is our God,And we are the people of His pasture,And the sheep of His hand.

All:Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen

MORNING PSALM

Psalm 85

Prayer that the Lord Will Restore Favor to the LandTo the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.

Lord, You have been favorable to Your land;You have brought back the captivity of Jacob.You have forgiven the iniquity of Your people;You have covered all their sin. You have taken away all Your wrath;You have turned from the fierceness of Your anger.

Restore us, O God of our salvation,And cause Your anger toward us to cease.Will You be angry with us forever?Will You prolong Your anger to all generations?Will You not revive us again,That Your people may rejoice in You?Show us Your mercy, Lord,And grant us Your salvation.

I will hear what God the Lord will speak,For He will speak peaceTo His people and to His saints;But let them not turn back to folly.Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him,That glory may dwell in our land.

Mercy and truth have met together;Righteousness and peace have kissed.Truth shall spring out of the earth,And righteousness shall look down from heaven.Yes, the Lord will give what is good;And our land will yield its increase.Righteousness will go before Him,And shall make His footsteps our pathway.

All:Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen

WORSHIP

All:
(A time of worship and thanksgiving, led or spontaneous. Alternatively a devotional song may be played and listened to.)

PRAYER & INTERCESSION

Reader:Let us pray for the day and its tasks, for the church and her life, and for the world and its needs.

(You may use these prayers as written or use them as ‘prayer pointers’ for your own spontaneous petitions.

Personal Requests

Mighty Lord, you call us to labour and you call us to rest. May this weekend bring openings for service, opportunities for stillness, times for others and occasions for rest. – Oh give thanks to the Lord for He is Good; His love endures forever!

For hands quick to obey, for minds clean and holy, for speech kind and truthful and for motives pure and godly. – Oh give thanks to the Lord for He is Good; His love endures forever!

Family & Friends

Lord Jesus, you befriended the sinner and elevated the lowly; you lifted the weak and healed the broken. Keep me from mindlessly following the crowd when my Lord has stooped to minister to those on the fringes. May I find my mission in the margins. – Oh give thanks to the Lord for He is Good; His love endures forever!

For attentiveness to the call of your Spirit, consideration to the needs of others and mindfulness to the cry of the lost. – Oh give thanks to the Lord for He is Good; His love endures forever!

Bring wholeness to my family today. May they be blessed in the city and blessed in the field, blessed coming in and blessed going out. – Oh give thanks to the Lord for He is Good; His love endures forever!

Bring salvation to my friends today. May their extremity be your opportunity and their deepest needs be met in the deepest love of Calvary. – Oh give thanks to the Lord for He is Good; His love endures forever!

The Church

Lord Jesus, we intercede for your people, joining the prayers of the Church Militant on earth with the prayers of the Church Triumphant in glory. Bring all to completion and return for a bride all spotless and pure! – Oh give thanks to the Lord for He is Good; His love endures forever!

For those who lead in worship and those who minister in prayer and counsel. May they know genuine unction and constant refreshing. – Oh give thanks to the Lord for He is Good; His love endures forever!

For our Pastors, Leaders and those in authority. May they have courage to speak boldly, strength to lead bravely and compassion to love tenderly. – Oh give thanks to the Lord for He is Good; His love endures forever!

For Followers who sit at a distance – open their hearts to the fullness of Christ. For Disciples who walk in your footsteps – may they be kept by the power of God. For Pilgrims who stand before your throne – may they inspire by the testimony of their lives. – Oh give thanks to the Lord for He is Good; His love endures forever!

The World

Mighty God, the whole world is in your hands and you have compassion on all peoples. We ask today for Palau. We thank you for your heart for the nations of the world and lift to you this beautiful set of Pacific Islands, filled with natural beauty but also the scene of some of World War II’s hardest battles. We pray for a vibrant and fresh movement of your spirit amongst your people. – Oh give thanks to the Lord for He is Good; His love endures forever!

Lord of all we pray for those who follow the Modekngei religion which mixes Christianity with magic. Would you manifest yourself to them strongly and cause a change of heart to turn away from magic and completely towards Jesus. – Oh give thanks to the Lord for He is Good; His love endures forever!

We pray for hope and freedom to the large number of adults imprisoned by addictions. May they hope against hope and see your guiding light leading them through into liberty. – Oh give thanks to the Lord for He is Good; His love endures forever!

We praise you for the 96% of the nation which consider themselves Christian. Lord we pray for a fresh touch of your spirit which will raise up evangelists to spread your Word to the smaller unreached island communities. – Oh give thanks to the Lord for He is Good; His love endures forever!

THE LORD’SPRAYER

Reader: And so we pray…

All:Our Father in heaven,Holy is Your Name.Your Kingdom come.Your will be done,On earth as it is in heaven.Give us this day our daily bread;And forgive us our trespasses,As we forgive those who trespass against us.And lead us not into temptation,But deliver us from evil.For yours is the kingdom,The power, and the glory,Forever and ever. Amen.

GOSPEL READING

Luke 17:1-6

Temptations to Sin

And he said to his disciples, “Temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come!It would be better for him if a millstone were hung round his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin.Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him,and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent’, you must forgive him.”

Increase Our Faith

The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea’, and it would obey you.

Reader:The Word of the Lord.All: Thanks be to God.

Pause for Reflection…

READING: THE WAY OF CHRIST(Optional)

Conscious that an unguarded tongue may set a whole forest on fire, I determine to avoid boastful language and idle gossip, remaining silent unless by speaking I may increase the wellbeing and happiness of others. As a follower of the Way of Humility, I will seek to discipline my mouth so that only that which is kind, true and necessary will proceed from it.

All:This is The Way of Humility: The Principle of Loving Speech.

Pause for Reflection…

THE APOSTLES CREED

Reader: And so we make our declaration of faith…

All:We believe in God the Father, Almighty,Maker of heaven and earth:And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord,Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,Born of the Virgin Mary,Suffered under Pontius Pilate,Was crucified, dead, and buried:He descended into the grave;The third day he rose again from the dead;He ascended into heaven,And sits on the right hand of God the Father Almighty;From there he shall come to judge the living and the dead.We believe in the Holy Spirit;The Holy Worldwide Church;The Communion of Saints;The Forgiveness of sins;The Resurrection of the body,And the Life everlasting. Amen.

COLLECT

Reader:(Either this or an alternative closing prayer may be said.)

God, who in generous mercy sent the Holy Spirit,
Upon your Church in the burning fire of your love:
Grant that your people may be fervent,
In the fellowship of your gospel,
That, always abiding in you,
They may be found steadfast in faith and active in service;
Through Jesus Christ your Son, our Lord,
Who is alive and reigns with you. Amen

BLESSING

Reader:(When praying in community, this or a similar blessing may be used)

And may the beauty of God be reflected in your eyes,
The love of God be embodied in your hands,
The wisdom of God be present in your words
And the knowledge of God be implanted in your heart,
That all might see, and seeing, may believe. Amen.

ABOUT COMPLINE

Compline (which comes from the Latin word for completion) follows a very ancient format that has been largely unchanged for many centuries. It is simple enough to memorise and it’s familiar rhythm helps to wonderfully settle the mind before sleep. It is a time of quietness and reflection and is best done as the very last thing you do before turning off the lights and going to sleep.

CALL TO WORSHIP

Reader: God, come to my assistanceAll:Lord, make haste to help me.

Reader:Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. All:As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen

EXAMINATION OFCONSCIENCE

We are called to have a clear conscience towards God and towards men, in our hearts and in our minds, in our actions and inactions. To do so, it is vital that we examine our conscience daily and ask for God’s mercy as we fall short and to ask His strength to do better.

Pause for Reflection…

All: (When praying in community, use the words in parenthesis)

I confess to God almighty,(and to you my brothers and sisters,)
that I have greatly sinned,
In my thoughts and in my words,
in what I have done and in what I have failed to do.
Through my fault, through my foolishness,And through my fear.

Almighty God, have mercy upon me.Forgive me all my sins,and deliver me from all evil.Confirm and strengthen me in all goodness,and bring me to life everlasting.Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Pause for Reflection…

Reader: Lord, Have mercy.All:Lord, have mercy. Reader: Christ, Have mercy. All:Christ, have mercy. Reader: Lord, Have mercy.All:Lord, have mercy.

EVENING PSALM

Psalm 134

Praising the Lord in His House at NightA Song of Ascents.

Behold, bless the Lord,All you servants of the Lord,Who by night stand in the house of the Lord!Lift up your hands in the sanctuary,And bless the Lord.

The Lord who made heaven and earthBless you from Zion!

All:Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen

WORSHIP

All:
(A time of worship and thanksgiving, led or spontaneous. Alternatively a devotional song may be played and listened to.)

NEW TESTAMENT READING

Acts 10:1-8

Peter and Cornelius

At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort,a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God.About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.”And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God.And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter.He is lodging with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.”When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him,and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.

RESPONSORY

Reader: You have redeemed us, Lord God of truth.All:
I commend my spirit.

Reader:Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. All:
Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.

SONG OF SIMEON (Nunc Dimitis)

All:Protect us, Lord, as we stay awake;Watch over us as we sleep,That awake, we may keep watch with Christ,And asleep, may rest in his peace.

Luke 2:29-32

Lord, now let your servant depart in peace, your word has been fulfilled:My own eyes have seen the salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people.A light to reveal you to the nations,and the glory of your people, Israel.

All:Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen

All:Protect us, Lord, as we stay awake;Watch over us as we sleep,That awake, we may keep watch with Christ,And asleep, may rest in his peace.

PRAYER

(You might like to spend a few moments thanking God for the day or bringing to him any outstanding issues.)

COLLECT

Reader:(Either this or an alternative closing prayer may be said.)

Be present, O God,
And protect us through the silent hours of this night,
So that we who are wearied by the changes and chances of this fleeting world,
May rest upon your eternal changelessness.
We ask this through Jesus Christ, your son our Lord,
Who is alive and reigns with you,
In the unity of the Spirit,
One God, now and forever, Amen

BLESSING

Reader:(When praying in community, this or a similar blessing may be used)

May the all-powerful Lord grant us a restful night and a peaceful end. Amen